Typewriter desk



C. ULRICH 'IYPEWRITER DESK Dec. 27, 1932.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22, 1927 vwx W ZZ Z W aiz m Dec. 27, 1932.c. a. ULRICH TYPEWRITER DESK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 22. 1927Patented Dec. 27, 1932 CHARLES .B. ULRICH, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOB T ART METAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK'IYPEWRITER DESK Application filed December 22, 1927. Serial No.241,754.

This in ention relates to desks and more particular y to typewriterdesks adapted for use in connection with phonographic reproducingapparatus.

It has heretofore been found necessary when using a typewriter inconnection with phonographic reproducing mechanisms, to mount thereproducing mechanisms on a separate support from that on which thetypewriter is set since otherwise the noise or vibrations of thetypewriter interfere with the reproduction of 'the phonographic record,since the noise or vibrations of the typewriter seem to be transmittedthrough the support to the reproducer of the phonographic mechanism andto be magnified thereby.

The objects of this invention are to provide a desk which is providedwith means for supporting a typewriter thereon and also aphonographic'reproducing mechanism, the desk being provided with meansof improved construction for preventing the transmission of sound orvibration from the typewriter to the reproducing mechanism; also toprovide a desk of this kind which is so constructed as to be peculiarlyadapted for use in connection with typewriters and phonographicreproducing mechanisms; also to provide a desk of this kind with aconduit mounted therein for carrying the electric wires or conductors tothe phonographic reproducing mechanism; also to provide a desk of thiskind with compartments for receiving phonographic records and otherparts required in connection with both the typewriter and phonographicreproducing mechanism; also to provide a desk of this kind in which thenoise of the typewriter is greatly reduced; also to improve theconstruction of desks of this kind in other respects hereinafterspecified.

In the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a deskembodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a desk embodyin this invention.

ig. 3 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof online i -4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, longitudinal section thereof, on an enlargedscale, on line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of the desk on line 66, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of one of the slides of the desk removedtherefrom.

Fig. 8 is atop plan view of one of the foot supporting members of thetypewriter.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, sectional elevation thereof.

Fig. 10 is a central, sectional elevation of one of the lower drawers ofthe desk.

Fig. 11 is a transverse, sectional view of the other lower drawer.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a ty ewriter foot supporting member ofmodi 'ed construction.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a series of my improved desks arrangedside b side.

A single desk such as is shown in igs. 1 10 to 3 inclusive, includes apair of pedestals A and A, provided with tops (1 and a and legs (1 .Thetwo pedestals are connected by a horizontal support which helps to holdthe two pedestals in correct relation to each other and which is adaptedto support a typewriting machine X and a phonographic reproducingmachine Y, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. In the construction shown,the support is made in two parts or shelves, a typewriter shelf B and ashelf G for the phonographic reproducing machine. These shelves may beconnected to the pedestals in any suitable or desired manner. Thetypewriter shelf B, for example, is provided with downwardly 83extending flanges b at opposite sides thereof which ma be connected tothe adjacent sides of the pe estals by means of bolts or the like I),which may extend through any one of a series of holes 6 in the sides ofthe pedestals 9 so that the shelf B may be adjusted vertically as may bedesired to suit the operator of the typewriter. Between the rear end ofthe typewriter shelf B and the front end of the reproducing machineshelf C is a partition D the upper and d of which extends above the twoshelves and serves to hold the honographic reproducing machine from sifting forwardly on the shelf G. The front end of the shelf C is securedto the upright partition 1 ing machine are mounted on the same table Din any suitable or desired manner and the rear end of the-shelf C issupported by an angle bar 0, the ends of which are secured to the twoedestals A and A and the upright flange 0 which extends above the uppersurface of the shelf C so that the machine Y is held by the angle bareand the extension d of the partition D against shit-tin forwardlyorrearwardly, and since the shel C is arranged below the tops of thepedestals, the upper portions of the pedestals prevent the machine Yfrom shifting laterally. Below the shelf C is provided another shelf C,and the artition D is provided with an offset portion (2', so as to forma larger space between the shelf C and above the lowest shelf C The twoshelves 0 and C may be employed for storing letter baskets or otherarticles employed in connection with the work of a typist, thecompartments formed by these shelves opening toward the rear of thedesk. The desk described is made of metal but it will be understood thatthe desk may be made of other material and may be of other constructionthan that shown. The construction described has the advantage that theshelves 0, G and C and the upright partition D, by being permanentlyconnected with the pedestals, hold the pedestals in correct relation toeach other while the typewriter shelf B is adjusted.

It is well known that it has heretofore been impossible to obtainsatisfactory results if the typewriter and phonographic reproducor desk,since the vibrations resulting from the operation of the typewriter aretransmitted through the typewriter frame to the desk or other supportand then to the phono- 'graphic reproducing machine where they aremagnified through the reproducer. Consequently the noise resulting fromthe operation of the typewriter interferes with the hearing of thesubject matter which is being reproduced. This transm ssion of sound orvibration occurs even though the typewriter be provided with the usualrubber su ports or feet. I have found, however, that by using certaincushioning materials interposed -between the typewriter and thereproducing machine, the communication of these vibrations from thetypewriter to the reproducing machine can'be prevented. For example ifsponge rubber or other soft and yielding rubber composition in the formof a relatively thick pad is placed either under the typewriter or underthe phonographic reproducing machine, this pad will absorb thevibrations and thus prevent the same from interfering with the properfunctioning ofthe' reproducer. in the particular constructionillustrated the cushioning pads are provided underneath the typewriter,but it will be understood that, if desired, the phonographic reproducingmachinemay be supported on eeaem pads of this kind. It has, however,been found that by supporting the typewriter on these pads the usualnoise of the typewriter is greatly reduced, thereby lessening thedisturbance to other occupants of the same or adj acent rooms.

'In the particular construction shown the shelf B includes an uppersheet or plate 15 of metal or other suitable material, and a lower sheetor plate 16, the two plates being spaced apart. The upper plate 15 ofthe shelf B is provided with a pair of longitudinally extendingapertures or recesses 1n each of which a pad or cushion is supported. Inthe particular construction shown, the pad or cushion is in the form ofa rubber composition 17 arranged in shallow rectangular pans orreceptacles-18 having flanges 19 resting upon the plate 15. These pansor receptacles 18 support the rubber compositions on the shelf B andprevent the weight of the typewriting machine from changing the shape ofthe cushioning material. The spacing of the pans is such that thetypewriter may rest entirely on the composition or padding containedtherein. When sponge rubber or other soft rubber composition is used Ihave found it desirable to also providemeans for preventing thedisplacement or jumping of the typewriter on the padding during theoperatlon of the keys of the typewriter. For this purpose, in theconstruction shown in Figs. 8 and 9. shallow pan shaped receptacles 20are preferably provided, each of which has a central recess ordepression 21 adapted to downwardly extending flange 22 which extendsbelow the bottom of the depression 21 and which embeds itself to acertain extent in the rubber composition 17. These devices have beenfound very effective in preventing the jumping or displacement of thetypewriter during the operation of the keys thereof and return of thecarria e. The receptacles 20 shown in Figs. 8 an 9 are intended for usein connection with typewriters having rounded feet, but receptacles ofthis kind of other construction may be employed, for example, as shownin Fig. 12, a square receptacle 24 may be provided which is intended foruse in connection with typewriters having square feet.

The arrangement of: the desk thus far described is very convenient inthat the phonographic reproducing machine is arranged directly in rearof the typewriter so that the operator of the typewriter can readilyreach over the typewriter and effect any adjustment on the reproducingmachine that may be desired or to change the cylinder or record therein.In order to further facilitate the use of a. phonographic reproducingmachine in connection with a desk of this kind, a tube or conduit ispreferably provided in one of the pedestals of the desk at the rear endthereof, as is shown in Figs. 4 and 6, in which a conduit is illustratedwhich terminates atits upper end on the inner wall of the pedestal ofthe desk'adjacent to the phonographic reproducing machine and extendsfrom this point downwardly toward the bottom of the pedestal to receivewires 26 carrying electr c current for operating the phonographicreproducing machine.

The use of the desk in connection with-the transcribing from aphonographi': reproducing machine is further facilitated by providingone of the pedestals, for example, the pedestal A with a drawer 27 whichis constructed to receive phonographic records and their containers orsheaths.- The drawer itself may be of any suitable or usual constructionand is preferably provided with a shell or horizontal partition 28,which is provided with a plurality of apertures 29 adapted to receivethe containers 30 for the phonographio records. This shelf or partition28 is provided at opposite sides with downwardly extending flanges 31which may be suitably secured to the side walls of the drawer forholding the partition or shelf in place. The bottom of the drawer 27 ispreferably provided underneath each of the apertures 29 with an upwardlypressed portion or knob 32 which enters into a recess in the lower endof the container 30 and thus assists in supporting the container in itsoperative position in the drawer 27. The corresponding drawer 34 in thepedestal A may be provided with a stationary supporting rack. The rackshown in the construction illustrated includes an inclined or slopingfalse bottom 35 and a plurality of vertical partitions 36 extendingupwardly therefrom so that different kinds of stationery may beseparated from each other. This stationery rack terminates at its rearend in an inclined wall 37 and this rack preferably faces toward theside of the drawer adjacent to the position of a typist when seated infront of the typewriter. In back of the inclined partition 37 is a space38 which may contain other materials for use in connection with eitherthe operation of the typewriter or the phonographic reproducing machine,such, for example, as for envelopes.

Each pedestal of the desk ispreferably provided just beneath the topthereof with a slide or sliding shelf, a slide 40 being provided in thepedestal A and a slide 4K in the pedestal A. The slide 41 is preferablyof the usual construction having a flat upper surfa eon which paper maybe supported for writing thereon or for other purposes, and the otherslide 40 is preferably constructed as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. Theseslidesin a sheet metal desk are usually provided with upper and lowerplates spaced apart. The slide 40 in the construction shown is madewithout the usual upper plate and is divided into a plurality ofcompartments by means of low upright walls or partitions 42, 43 and 44,the wall 42 extending lengthwise at a short distance from one edge ofthe slide to form a longitudinal compartment 45 adapted to receiverulers orother long narrow articles. Between the partition 44 and thefront wall of the slide a compartment 46 is formed to receive pencils orthe like and between the partitions 44 and 43 a pair of removable trays47 andi48 may be provided which may receive pins, paper fasteners orother small articles. A larger compartment is formed in rear of thepartition 43 which may be used for carbon paper or any other articles.Since the compartments in this slide are comparatively shallow, the topsurface of the slide may be used for sorting papers or for supportingbooks or other articles in the usual way, the top edges of thepartitions in this slide serving to support such articlessubstantiallyhoriz ontally.

i The desk described is particularly adapted for typewriting from aphonograp ic reproducing machine and in view of the compact andconvenient arrangement of all the parts i of the desk, a large saving infloor space is efie ted and because of the greater convenience affordedby a desk of this kind the work of typewriting from a phonographicreproducing machine can be done at greater speed and efiiciency.

The desk shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is intended for the use of oneindividual, but the construction described readily lends itself to acompact arrangement of a number of desks of this kind as is indicated inFig. 13 in which the pedestals are alternately arranged and eachpedestal connected to an adjacent one by means of the shelves B and C.Fig. 13 is entirely diagrammatic and details of construction areomitted.

. I claim 1. A desk including a pair of pedestals, a shelf connectingsaid pedestals and adapted to support a typewriting machine, a secondshelf connected with said pedestals and arranged in rear of said firstshelf and below the top of said pedestals, and parts extending upwardlyat the front and rear portions of said last mentioned shelf for holdinga phonographic reproducing machine on said last mentioned shelf.

2. A desk including a pair of pedestals, a shelf connecting saidpedestals formed of spaced upper and lower walls, and, adapted tosupport a typewriter and a phonographic reproducing machine, said shelfhavingrrecesses in the top wall thereof, receptacles mounted in saidrecesses and containing sponge rubber, for supporting said typewritingmachine to prevent vibrations of said machine from being transmitted tosaid reproducing machine.

3. A desk including a pair of pedestals, a shelf for supporting atypewriting machine 4. s aeaasm.

. and the upper end of which extends above said two shelves forpreventing forward movement of said phonographic reproducin machine, anda series of shelves arranged below said second shelf and connected withsaid u right partition to form compartments opening to the rear of thedesk.

4. A typewriter desk comprising a shelf having a recess in its upperface, a shallow pan formed to fit said recess and having a top marginalflange by which it is pendantly supported upon the edges of said recess,and a pad of sponge rubber filling said pan to support thereon anarticle such as a typewriter, said pad having its top surfacesubstantially flush with the top of said pan to thereby prevent lateraldistortion of said pad from the weight of said typewriter. l

5. A desk including a pair of pedestals, a pair of shelves connectingsaid pedestals for supporting a typewriter and a phonographicreproducing machine respectively, one of said shelves havin a air ofspaced, relatively long recesses t erem, a pad of a highly resilientmaterial arranged in each of said recesses for engagement by a pair offeet on a typewriter to support such machine for preventing thetransmission of vibrations therefrom to said phonographic reproducingmachine, and means extending about the edges of said recesses to preventlateral distortion of said pads due to the weight of said typewriter.

CHARLES B. ULRICH.

